Abu Dhabi: Temperatures in the UAE surged as high as 50.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said.

The sweltering 50.2 degrees was recorded in Umm Zamool in Fujairah.

"The country's airports and harbours have been informed to take precautionary measures," a spokesperson for the centre said.

The spokesperson said the centre notified the Ministry of Labour to inform private companies and establishments to abide by the midday break rule to protect workers from heat stroke and exhaustion.

Humaid Bin Deemas, Acting Director General at the ministry, said instructions have been issued to tighten control at construction sites.

He called on companies to provide workers with shade, drinking water and first aid in cases of emergency.

"No cases of exhaustion or heat stroke have been reported. The temperature in Fujairah yesterday was unusual," Bin Deemas said.

A forecaster said humidity reached 100 per cent in some parts of the country on Sunday.


Your comments


My husband is a civil engineer and is working as a Senior Projects Manager with a Consultancy firm in Dubai. The workers at the construction site work in this heat throughout the day. This is not correct and a solution for this would be to start night shifts. All outside work could be carried out from 4p.m to 12 midnight. The workers who intend on working overtime could continue their work for another 2 hours till 2 a.m. All inspections and site visits by senior officials could be carried out between 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The site engineers and supervisors could work from 4p.m. to 12 midnight. Any extra work which needs to be carried out could be done in the early morning hours. All sites could be closed between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the evening. This system would help not only the workers but also all other people involved in construction sites. Also work could be carried out in a better manner as the level of discomfort would be definitely lesser. Most of the workers and engineers are travelling from Sharjah to Dubai or other emirates in this sweltering heat. During the summer months such a system could be implemented which would evade mishap on sites which involve heat strokes and other problems.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 01, 2009, 18:44

I pity those working in construction fields. Mid day break should be started from June 1st itself and not July 1st as temperatures are already above 50 degrees.
Jemy Boben
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: June 01, 2009, 13:58

suggestion : midday work to be totally stopped(specially at construction sites) and thus organise for the night shifts.
Mohammad Abdul Rahman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 01, 2009, 13:04